Design is not just what a product looks like and feels like – it’s how it works.
The eDrive has been awarded the prestigious Good Design Award in the Engineering Design category.
Unicla eDrive is an intelligent, industrial-grade electric air-conditioning and refrigeration compressor.
Its patented, award-winning design with dual onboard pressure and temperature transducers is designed
for both OEM and retrofit applications in mining, locomotive, industrial and off-highway machinery.
eDrive incorporates the Unicla 10-cylinder swashplate compressor, a design that has been evolutionary for
over 60 years. The Unicla swashplate compressor has endured extremes in service with transport, military
and mobile refrigeration around the world proving it a worthy heavy-duty compressor in its class.
The evolution story of Unicla is now following an EV route with the incorporation of a brushless DC motor
in a hybrid semi hermetic configuration allowing simple field separation of the motor and compressor if
required. The same robustness seen in the swashplate compressor is embedded in the motor and
electronics with incorporation of automotive grade components, conformally coated and staked PCBA
which are validated in working conditions.
eControl is a Unicla proprietary firmware split in three sections – Control, Protect and Adapt.
It is embedded in the eDrive compressor hardware and is configurable via the eConnect communication
interface. eControl uses the eDrive system measurements from on board dual pressure temperature
transducers and various mechanical sensors from the DC motor and PCB hardware to manage the
compressor and influence the desired system reliability, safety and operating behaviour.
There are two versions of eConnect:
eConnect Desktop
Two-way communication to the eDrive compressor via USB or ethernet cable
eConnect Web
One-way communication
(view only – requires an internet connection via ethernet cable)
Features include:
• Main Dashboard – all essential operational data
• Performance graphing, events with CSV output
• Compressor information – name, serial number, run time
• Configure eControl settings – Control, Protect, Adapt (Desktop version only)
eControl is a Unicla proprietary firmware split in three sections – Control, Protect and Adapt.
It is embedded in the eDrive compressor hardware and is configurable via the eConnect communication
interface. eControl uses the eDrive system measurements from on board dual pressure temperature
transducers and various mechanical sensors from the DC motor and PCB hardware to manage the
compressor and influence the desired system reliability, safety and operating behaviour.
The primary layer of eDrive operational logic that is accessible and configurable in the eConnect commissioning tab.
Fixed speed:
10-24V on/off by thermostat signal
Variable speed:
4-20mA or 0-10V
Communication:
CAN bus, RS485
A suite of user-configurable and factory-fixed
safety limits that maintain the compressor durability
and lifespan.
Pressure:
Cut in and cut out setpoints for suction and discharge pressure
Temperature:
Cut in and cut out setpoints for suction and discharge temperature
Superheat:
Cut in and cut out setpoints for suction and discharge superheat
Oil Balance System (OBS):
A mandatory but configurable feature to manage the oil retention ratio between the compressor oil level (COL) and total system oil quantity (SOQ). The OBS function runs a series of start and stop cycles after a specific stationary period to minimise high or low COL upon full start-up and prior to resuming normal operation
A set of discrete functions that overlay the primary logic for a high-level control intervention.
Adaptive control is an additional option activated in eConnect to control low or high side parameters and power consumption. The settings for each parameter are configurable to suit individual systems. Compressor speed is dynamically adjusted to keep systems operating efficiently and safely within specific control settings.
High Side Pressure protection:
Adaptive control adjusts compressor speed within a predefined range to maintain safe HP levels. This extends system operational time and minimises setpoint triggers causing the systems to power off.
An example would be a blocked condenser.
Low Side Pressure protection:
Adaptive control adjusts compressor speed within a predefined range to maintain safe LP levels. This extends system operational time and minimises setpoint triggers causing the systems to power off.
An example would be a low gas charge.
Low Side Pressure control:
Adaptive control continuously adjusts compressor speed within a defined range to maintain LP control settings. Suited for applications where low side pressure control is preferred rather than traditional thermostat output.
Power protection:
Adaptive control adjusts compressor speed to keep power consumption within specific limits to prevent circuit breaker trips, system shutdowns or excessive depletion of battery capacity in electric vehicles and machinery.
+61 7 5549 4000
14 Motorway Circuit
Ormeau QLD 4208
Australia
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